Erecting a telephone pole: One fifth of the length of a telephone pole should be planted in the ground. — Ron Bean, mechanics of materials student, Madison, Wisconsin.
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Digging a grave: When digging a grave by hand, haul away seventeen wheelbarrow loads of dirt and pile the rest by the hole. You will have just the right amount to backfill. — Randall Lacey, wind-power engineer.
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Choosing a woodstove: If you are trying to decide what size woodstove you need you can start by figuring 2.5 cubic feet of firebox per 1000 square feet of living space.
— Dan Hoffman, city council alderman.
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Ann Landers’ pencil test: To determine whether you need to wear a bra, place a pencil under your breast. If the pencil falls to the floor, you don’t need to wear a bra; if it stays, you need one. — Ann Landers, advice columnist
